Mike Cotton co-founded The Curling Group, which bought the Grand Slam of Curling from Sportsnet in 2024 and built a new professional league around it.
Worth knowing
He has taken a broadcaster-owned sports property private, raised venture money against it, and sold three years and 300 hours of US coverage to ESPN. He knows how niche sports get distribution, sponsors and a fan base outside Canada. Worth a note if you are building a league, a sports media property, or taking a Canadian franchise into the American market.
Story
Mike came to sports ownership through gaming. He was COO at Toronto Esports and later CEO of Rumble Gaming, and ran Zone Startups Sports & Media at Ryerson University, where he worked with early-stage companies in the business of sport. In 2024 he and Nic Sulsky founded the company, with Sportsnet staying on as the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of the circuit they had acquired. The following April they launched Rock League, a professional mixed curling league, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, with its first season set for 2026. He now runs both properties from Toronto.
In Mike's words
Grew up in Kingston, moved to Toronto from New York in 2016. Currently own and operate two global curling properties: the Grand Slam of Curling and Rock League.
Highlights
- Co-Founder, The Curling Group, Toronto
- Raised US$5M seed funding to grow the sport of curling, 2024
- Three-year ESPN deal: 300 hours of live curling in the US, 2025
- Former CEO, Rumble Gaming; former COO, Toronto Esports
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